One of the easiest ways to be “green” during the holidays is to reduce waste. Gift wrap is pretty, but ultimately ends up in a landfill adding to the 25 million tons of waste created during the holidays. To cut down on gift wrap (and therefore waste) choose gifts that don’t need wrapping such as:

  1. Gift cards.
  2. Tickets to events.
  3. Charitable donation on someone’s behalf (like to WHWF.org!)
  4. Electronically delivered gifts such as music, books, or movies that can be accessed by computer, e-reader, and other technical devises.
  5. Membership to a green organization, a gym, or other group.

Another way to reduce wrapping paper waste is to be creative by using or reusing available items such as:

  1. Newspaper which can be painted or decorated.
  2. Paper bags left over from shopping trips.
  3. Gift bags from previous gifts.
  4. Saved wrapping paper from previous gifts (no more ripping and tearing the paper!)
  5. Fabric.
  6. Pillow cases that can be decorated.
  7. Baskets and other containers that can continue to be used.

Check out Shoplet.com for recycled and eco-friendly paper and office products.